Remote control apparatus



March 24, 1931. a. SOMAJNI REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10, 1928Patented 'Mar. 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE GIACOMO SOKAJNI, man, ITALY REMOTECONTROL APPARATUS Application filed August 10, 1928, Serial No. 298,740,and in Italy September 19, 1927.

This invention relates to remote control apparatus, and moreparticularly to remote control apparatus of the socalled telemotor kind,in which apparatus at a controlled station 01' stations is required tofollow up the movements of apparatus at the control station.

There are many known arrangements for the the remote control of deviceswhich are required, for various purposes, to be arranged in differentpositions; for example, for many controllers controlling the motors of aplurality of automotive coaches which constitute a remote controlledtrain.

Certain known arrangements of this kind utilize electromagneticinterrupters, while others employ pilot electric motors started andbraked by current impulses sent from a central station. The latterarrangements are I mechanically more robust, but their operation isapt'to be somewhat uncertain unless the control gear be made undulycomplicated.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide anarrangement comparable in robustness with pilot motor ar rangements, butwhich is as simple and as acv curate in operation as those employingelectromagnetic interrupters.

The invention envisages the employment of a control device, and meanswhereby, in the different positions of this device, currents are 7caused to flow in the control circuits, the said currents causingmechanical movement in the controlled devices in either direction.

The invention further envisages the provision of means for preventingfurther movement of the control device until all the devices controlledthereby have moved to posi- V of the duplex electromagnetic devicesdrive the, same controlled device and are so ar- 5 ranged that onecauses step-by-step movements in one direction, while the other servesfor the opposite direction. The controlling station, which provides thecurrent impulses,

comprises means for producing a reversal of current for each step ofmovement of the control device in a given direction, while if itsdirection of movement be reversed, the operative connections to oneelectromagnetic device are broken, and those to the other areestablished. so

The control device is associated with a locking arrangement which leavesthe said device free to be moved only after all the local controlleddevices have comple a required, previously-communicated movement.

In all known multiple-control systems for electric trains, the controlstations are usually located at each end of each car, so that theoperation of the train can be controlled by an operator at thefront ofthe train, regar ess of the make-u and direction of travel of the train.It is o vious that in the present improved system, it is readilypossible to adopt an analogous arrangement by multiplying the centralcontrol stations, just as it is nec- 75. essary to multiply the localcontrol stations, the several central stations and the several localstations being identical, respectively, with the single central stationand single 10- cal station illustrated. The accompanying drawing is adiagrammatic view showing one construction, according to the invention,for controlling apparatus' or devices located at a plurality ofdifierent stations froma single controlling s5 station.

' Referring to the drawin C" shows one controlled apparatus or devicewhich is, for example, a drum controller or similar implement, 0'indicates the driving means or device for rotating controller C" in oneor the other direction, and 5 represents a device for adustingandstopping therotation of the driving device C. Several lines connectthe controlled or distant stations with the central station, sh own inthe lower part of drawing, which latter station comprises a centralcontroller C for actuating the drums C" or the like at the controlledstations, and a switching device F adapted to rotate with C for a longperiod, only one step is taken by the drivin device C, it beingnecessary to send a furt er impulse of opposite polarity to obtain afurther step in the same direction. This advantageous result is, more-1over, obtained without the use of brakes.

The driving means or device C comprises a rotating armature 3, providedwith two windings 1' and 2- arranged in i the magnetic field M of apermanent or an independently excited electromagnet 4. In thedrawing,the magnet is shown as abipolarelectromagnet fed from an eux iliarbattery he winding 1'i'.', 2r 2 have one end connected to a common slipring 0, the other ends being respectively connected each to one of tworings 1, 2. Brushes bearing upon the slip rings "are connected by 3means of three lines G 2 to the central control apparatus, as will belater described.-

The-windings 1- and 2' are so arranged as to lienear the geometricalaxial,

I planeofthe armature passing through the pole tip ofrthe magnet 4 whenthe armature.

is in a position of rest.

Obviously, if desired, a multi-polar in ductor may be emplo ed, inwhichcase each. step of movement o the active conductors' will be a fractionof 180, instead of 180, as isthe casein the arrangement illustrated; andis italso obviously possible to employ a number of couples of wmdingsequal to the number of pairs of'poles. 1

, If the central battery B, provided at the central or control station,be connected in the c1rcuit of the brush 1 (the brush 2 being eludedfrom this circuit), current will raverse the winding 1'-the'winding2t-rr f' remaining inactive If the said current enters at 1andleavesat 1", then, owing to the direction of the magnetic field M,the. windin 1'1 will tendto turn in the direction 0tv the arrow N untilit reaches the neutr'al vertical plane. It will then continue itsrotation at a lower speed, under the influence. of'the kinetic energy ofthe rotating parts, untilit' hasmoved through 180' when it will bestopped and held accurately in a definite position by a centering wheel5,.

keyed to the armature shaft. The operation of the wheel 5 willbe'obvious from the drawing, whence it will be seen that the said wheel,

- while serving to give accurate location, yet= leaves sufiicient tion.

It will be seen that even if the current fed play to ensure reliableopra to the winding 1.f-1" continues after the re-' polarity is sentfrom thecontrol station, this "currentwill traverse the winding 1'-1-described in connection with winding 1" 1,

ifthe wheel 7 tii'rns in the direction of the vwill remain stationarysince the negative couple is too weak to cause reversed movements.

The mechanism to be controlled (for instance, the drum controller C isdriven v b the armature 3 by means'of a pair of toothe wheels 66 (orother equivalent means) 1 If, afterthe' above described step of movementhas occurred, a currentof opposite-,

and thus cause the armature 3 to take anotherste forward and so on, eachsuccessive reversa 1 of impulsing current causing a further step in thesame direction, until the limit of move- I ment is reached. c If, at anygiven moment, it is required to" cause the device C tooperatoin theother direction, it is merely necessary to disconnect the battery 3 atthe control station from the circuit of the brush 1, and connect it incircuit with the brush 2. The winding 25- -2", which functions in'amanner similar to that except that it rotates in the opposite direction,is thus put into actiOD- Q The control station comprises means forproducing-the required reversals of current, and also means" foreffectively connectin the winding 1'-1" or ar-. 2" in circuit .wit thebattery 3, according ;to the direction of rotation required.

The current-reversin means comprise a commutator-or drumC- ,having twoseries of contacts adapted to make contact in each; position with fixedcontact members b+ and b-,connect edtothe battery B,..'The arrangea mentis such that the sets of contacts are-alternately connected to twoconducting bars, 1 5 0 and 07, bar .0 being permanentlfl connectedthroughthe correspondinglyin icated wire to the brush 0, while the bar'0';" is adapted to be connected, as willbe described later, to one ofthe 'two conductors 2" connected respectively to the brus U Thus,ateach'ste of the control eviate,- 9 n' q ntl of t e drum 0E,ythe"'current the w ng lF-d" or 2' connected: 1 I

to the battery .will be reversed.-;

The. means for'-connecti!'1g andidisconnect-- ing the windings 11",'l;"-'- -2' comprise" a star wheel 7? on-the shaft'pfthe central,controller and cooperatingwitha pivoted j balance arm 7,havingaconductive brid piece 7"', and a' pair 0f spring pawls 7', 7!,vwhich are hing'ed, a's shown, and-. .-:.;spring biased towardspositions with'res ect 'i to the wheel 7. Assumingthe parts to new y ingthe-positions shown, it will be seen t at arrow F, the pawl 7 will notoppose its move ment, sincethe said pawl is out of the field T ofengagement, while the pawl 7 will not oppose movement because it isfolded back.

If, now, the direction of rotation is reversed, I

the pawl 7" will engage the advancing face of the adjacentopoint ortooth of the wheel 7 thus causing the arm 7 to pivot-and moving thebridge 7 from a position connecting contacts 0 and 1 to a position inwhich contacts 0' and 2 are bridged, thus efiectively disconnectingwinding 1'1" and connecting winding 22. Further, rotation of the deviceC in the same direction is, of course, unimpeded by the arm'and pawls,since the pawl 7 will be carried out of en- I gagement and the pawl 7folded back. Further, reversal of device C will obviousl bring the arm 7back to the illustrated position.

vided for accurately centering the arm 7 in its two positions.

The apparatus also comprises a locking device which prevents any furthermovement of the central controller 0 until driving device C has made arequired movement. This locking device, in the construction illustrated,is constituted by a ratchet wheel 8, keyed to the shaft of thecontroller C and cooperating with a pawl 8 normally retained in the openposition by a spring 8 and adapted to be attracted to the lockingposition by an electromagnet 8" which is energized from the battery Beach time a special circuit, controlled by all the local controlleddevices (of which there is one at each controlled station) is closed.Such closure is efiected so long as there is a local controlled deviceC" which has not reached the position corresponding to that of thecentral control de-' vice C.

There are many different ways for con trolling the energizing of magnet8" and, consequently, the operation'of pawl 8.

In the simple form illustrated, the locking circuit includes a plurality(say 2:) of main connecting lines 11, 12, 13 which terminate at eachcontrolled station in brushes BC 11",12", 13" said circuit alsoincluding the lines 11', 12, 13

which terminate at one end at the central station in the brushes CB 11,12, 13 I and, at the other end, are connected to said main connectinglines.

The brushes BC 11", 12", 13" are associated at each station C" withcontacts arranged on a drum BC, which is rigidly connected to the shaftof the drum C, while the brushes CB 11, 12,13 at the central station arearranged to cooperate with contacts in another drum CB, which issimilarly connected to the shaft of the central controller C.

The arrangements of the different drum contacts are suitably determinedso as to permit the closing of the magnet circuit at the proper timeand, consequently, the engagement of the locking pawl 8 with ratchet 8.

Supposing, now, that the control drum CB has previously been rotatedinto the intermediate position indicated at h, the arrangement must besuch that the sets of contacts allow the rotation of the hand-wheel ofcontrol drum CE if the controlled drums BC have all reached thecorresponding position h, and to lock it if the drums have not yetattained said required position b.

At the central station, the battery B is connectedto ground at one endand, at the other end, is connected by line b with a terminal of themagnet 8". The other terminal ofsaid magnet is connected over the line bwith the brush 10 which slides over a bar a situated on the main drumCB; said bar a being connected with a plurality of contacts thatcooperate with a number of brushes or contacting members 11, 12, 13 Foreach position of the drum CB, the brush 10 is permanently connectedthrough the bar a with all the contacts and, therefore, with one oranother of the brushes 11, 12, 13 connected by the lines 11, 12, 13 tothe main lines 11, 12, 13; the latter lines being connected at eachcontrolled station to the corresponding brushes 11", 12",13" Similarseries of contacts are also provided at the controlled stations, wherethey are mounted on drums BC, to engage said brushes 11", 12", 13 andare connected to bars a" which always communicate with ground throughcontact members 20".

If, now, for a given position of the handwheel of drum CB, the contactmembers (11 and 12 for example) engage their associated contacts d anda, respectively, a circuit will be closed every time that thecorresponding brush at BC 11 or 12" engages contacts (1" and c".Stated'otherwise, suppose that all the controllers C" are in theposition h corresponding to the one occupied by the central controller0; when, the locking device being open, the hand-wheel of controllerC isrotated, for example to position It, a, circuit is closed as follows:the grounded battery B, line b, magnet 8", line b, brush 10 which slidesalong contact bar a, contacts f, 0 and d which coact with brushes 14, 12andll, lines 14', 12' and 11, respectively, and inain lines 14, 12 and11, respectively, to the brushes 14", 12 and 11" at the controlledstation drum BC. The latter, being in the position it previouslyattained, closes a circuit through of am Bowinr circuit is closedthrough: grounded battery B,-line b, magnet8f, line b brushv 10, bar a,the contacts Oran-mos at the position de- 'signated k, i. e.- f,.c a'ndd, brushs 14, 12 and I 11, respectively,-li nes 14, 12 andll', mainlines 14, 12) and 11, and the. res ective brushes 145, 12 and ll'iiatdrum B The circuit-remains open and thuslfrees the handh wheel of thecentral'controller 0. But if,

however, any of the controlled drums should stop in osition h, thecontact a" will remain enga c .with the brush 12", closing thetcircult trough the bar which is grounded.

' 2o direction, rotates in the opposite direction,

. causing a step in position It, which 'doe's not correspond pro erlywiththe control drum position. In t atevent, the contact d? at ,thecontrolled station willclose a circuit through brush' jl-lfi, the bar aand the ground. No movement-of the hand 'wheel of the centr al drum ispossible because the ratch- I et. 8 is locked byfthe pawl *.8.- Thus,every;

I time that the drum: at the" controlf station so is moved forwarderbackward, locking isef fected-asffsoon 'as'One step; is tflkBIifOlliac.- count of the combination of'contacts, such a lockingbeingeliminated only when the drums of the controlleddevices havethemselves also a5 compileted-on'estep in' the required. direction;

.' ever, the emp -;if it, were; masters T s arran ementf wouldnecessitate-how tors equal to that'offthepositionsnecessary, .to allow?of I periodic 1 0. repetitions, in orde'r-jto'- avoid the possibilit areact'uall difierent, ,With the same num ber (:27) o ;1 ines, I it'gispossiblegthoweveq: to

I obtain" a greater-'number'-O ;.c0mbinations of I I connections. 'Ihus,gj;there may be arranged in the various rows oi 'di'um contacts, with.re-

lation to .th devices; controlled f(each of a: y contacts; arranged 'incomplementarypo-I I fthere will betenfpossibleydifier which compri Isingle. but several; contacts. and'tokprovide n Thus, with tions, caableofv characterizing, as; com:

555 pletely d1flerent.positi,ons and, general,

, a number of positions equalntothat of the combinations of a: elementstaken 31.41.

V Obviously, the locking operation can beeffected when the circuit tothe magnet 8" is de-energized',. as when it is energized, the

changes necessar in the control circuits and in the mechanica arran"ement' of'thc ratchet being obvious to those 8 illedin theart. me'lheregulationcof the locking circuitma be effected in many diflferent'ways,' accor each its brush. The

oyment oi a number of oon uc f of correspondence between positionswhic Isaid armature. sitions upon of the, control-statiom ing to theconstruction of'the driving device .C and to other conditions, in anygiven case.

1. In a remote control apparatus embodying a controlling station and acontrolled sta- 1 tion, the combination of a double electromechanicaldevice located at the controlled sta tion and adapted to advance step bystep in one direction when ,one of its elements is energizedby impulsesof alternately-reversed p0 arity', and in the opposite direction when tsother element is similarly ener zed and,

at the controlling station, a contro ing mem-v ber' movable ,stepbystep, means for producing impulses of alternate y-reversed polarity foreach successive step of the controlling member in a given direction, andmeans for feeding said impulses to one or the other element of thedouble electromechanical .device at the controlled station according assaid f controlling memberjsmoved in one orthefl other direction. a Y 2.,A remote control apparatus, according to claim 1; in which meansarerovided for preventin furthermovement o the controlcompleted apredetermined movement. I 3. A remote control apparatus, according:lingmem er located at the controllihgstaf'tionuntil the doubleelectromechanical de- .vice located at the controlled station hasto'claim 1,.in which thedouble electromee chanical device at thecontrolled station comprlses a rotatable armature arranged in'asubstantially-constant, magnetic field; and

provided with two, separate": windings symmetrically arranged withrespect to a neutral line, a sli rin' common to both windings-and to-wich t e same are connected at "one end, and a pair of s'li rings to-which saidwindings are connecte at the other end;

a'sourceof current; and a switch devicelo cated at the controllingstation and to which-- all. three rings are connected; said switch adated't'o be moved to connect one .or another wf contacts) not" merely a Fof t e windings to said -current'source'accord- I ing to the requireddirection of rotation of v I 4. ,A .remote control apparatus, accordingsubstantially-constant magnetic field andprovided with twose aratewindings syml metrically arrangedwith respect to a neutral line, a shpring common to both windings and to 'whi'ch the same are connected atoneend, and a pair'of slip rings to which said windings are connected'atthe other end; a source of current; and a switch device locat-J- ed atthe controlling station and to whichallthree rings are connected; saidswitch adapted to be moved'to connect one or anprovided with twoseparate windingsisymmetrically arranged withirespect to a neutral line,a slip ring common to both windings and to which the same are connectedat one end, and a pair of slip rings to which said windings areconnected at the other end; a

- source of current; a switch device located at 55 provided with twoseparate windings symthe controlling station 'and to which all threerings are connected; said switch adapted to be moved to connect one oranother of the windings to said current source according to the requireddirectionpf rotation of sa1d armature, and the active conductorscomprised in the windings being arranged to lie in proximity to the polepieces of the electromechanical device when the armature is in aposition of rest; and a centering device for accurately determiningtherest positions.

6. In a remotecontrol apparatus embodying a controlling station and acontrolled station, the combination of a double electro- 'mechanicaldevice located at the controlled station and adapted to advance step bystep in one direction when one of its elements is energized by im ulsesof alternately-reverse polarity, and in the opposite direction when itsother element is similarly energized; and, at the controlling station, acontrolling member movable step by step, a reversing switch driven bysaid member for producing impulses of alternately-reversed polarity, andmeans for feeding said impulses to one or the other element of thedouble electromechanical device at the controlling station according assaid controlling member is moved in one or the other direction.

7. A remote control apparatus, according to claim 6, inwhich thereversing switch includes a pair of conductor bars connected,respectively, to a common terminal, of the switch and to a commoncollector ring of the armature of the electromechanical device, a localbattery for emitting the impulses, and two sets of contacts adapted tobe connected alternately to said bars and to the two terminals of thelocal battery.

8. A remote control apparatus, according to claim 1, in which the'doubleelectromechanical device at the controlled station comprises a rotatablearmature arranged in a substantially-constant magnetic 'field andmetrially arranged with respect to a neutral l1ne,a slip ring common toboth windings and to whlch the same are connected at one end,

and a pair of slip rings to which said wind' ings are connected at theother end; a source of current; and a switch device for connecting oneor another winding to said current source located at the controllingstation and to which all three rings are connected; saidswitchcomprising a balance arm provided with pivotally-mounted pawls, atoothed wheel keyed to the shaft of the. controlling member and withwhich said pawls coact, means for rocking said arm each time thedirection of movement of the controlling member is reversed, and aswitch member carried by the said arm for making the desired changes inconnections. q

9. In a remote control apparatus embodying controlling and controlledstations, a stepwise-rotary controlling device at the controlledstation; a stepwise-rotary controlling device at the controllingstation; electrical connections between the ,two devices for causingtheir operation in synchronism; and a switch operatively associated withthe controlling device at the controlling station for producing impulsesof alternately-reversed polarity for each successive step'of thelastnamed controlling device in a given direction; said switch includinga balance arm provided with pivotally-mounted pawls, a toothed wheel'keyed to the shaft of the lastnamed controlling device and with .whichsaid pawls coact, means for rocking said arm each time the direction ofmovement of the controlling member is reversed, and a switch membercarried by the said arm for making the desired changes in connections.

10. In a remote control apparatus embodying controlling and controlledstations, a stepwise-rotary controlling device at the controlledstation; a stepwise-rotary controlling device at the controllingstation; electrical connections between the two devices for causingtheir operation in synchronism; a switch operatively associated with thecontrolling device at the controlling station for producing impulses ofalternately-reversed polarity for each successive step of the last-namedcontrolling device in' a given direction; and an electromagnetic deviceassociated with said last named controlling device for locking itagainst rotation until the other controlling device has reached acorresponding position.

11. A remote control device according to claim 10, in which theelectromagnetic locking device comprises a ratchet fixed to the shaft ofthe controlling device at the controlling station, a pawl cooperativewith said ratchet, and a magnet influenced by the said controllingdevice at the controlling. station for operating said pawl.

whereof I affix my signature.

In testimony GIACOMO SOMAJNI.

